Yeongnak, Chunghyeon, Gwanglim, and Other Medium to Large Churches Join in Suspending Sunday Worship Services

Photo by Yeongnak Church website capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] As the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) rapidly increases in South Korea, medium and large churches have successively decided to suspend worship services starting next month on the 1st.

Yeongnak Church in Jung-gu, Seoul, and Chunghyun Church in Gangnam-gu, both large churches affiliated with the Presbyterian Church of Korea (Tonghap), announced on the 29th that they will suspend Sunday worship services to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Yeongnak Church announced on its website that the 1st to 5th services on the 1st of next month will be switched to online live streaming. Chunghyun Church also stated that to protect its congregation and local community from the spread of COVID-19, it will suspend worship services on the 1st and 8th of next month and will broadcast live via its YouTube channel.

Gwanglim Church in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, affiliated with the Korean Methodist Church, also decided to replace Sunday worship services with online services until the 8th of next month. In addition, Gangnam Dongsan Church in Gangnam-gu, Gwangjang Church in Gwangjin-gu, and Yeongdeungpo Church in Yeongdeungpo-gu announced on their websites that they will not hold Sunday worship services inside the church.

Previously, Yoido Full Gospel Church, Myungsung Church, Somang Church, Onnuri Church, Saemunan Church, Geumran Church, Oryun Church, and Suwon Seong Church also announced the suspension of Sunday worship services.

Park Yang-woo, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, issued an urgent appeal the day before, stating, "This weekend and next weekend will be a very critical turning point to prevent the spread of COVID-19," and added, "I ask all religious leaders and followers for their active understanding and participation to refrain from religious gatherings and events for the time being."

Meanwhile, as of 4 p.m. on the same day, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Korea was counted at 3,150. This marks 40 days since the first patient was reported on the 20th of last month, and just one day after surpassing 2,000 cases yesterday, the number exceeded 3,000.